North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation

John Rustin is Executive Director of the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation, a statewide, nonpartisan research and education organization that serves business and industry by conducting extensive research and analysis of North Carolina’s political arena.

Prior to joining the Foundation in April 2009, John spent 15-years as a full-time lobbyist before the North Carolina General Assembly. In addition to serving as Vice President and Director of Government Relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council from 1997 to 2009, John represented a variety of corporate interests before state legislative and regulatory agencies including General Electric, Abbott Laboratories and the American Plastics Council. During the 2005 and 2007 legislative sessions, John was recognized as one of the 50 “Most Influential Lobbyists” in the state by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research in a biannual survey of legislators, lobbyists and the media.

John credits much of his interest in North Carolina politics to a year he spent in the mid-1990’s with the North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education (NCFREE), the predecessor organization to the N.C.FreeEnterprise Foundation. John received a BA in Industrial Relations from UNC-Chapel Hill and lives with his family in Raleigh.

Nina Rizzo is the Administration & Development Manager for the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation. Nina’s career experience is in nonprofit program development, project leadership, and volunteer management. Nina received a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and Personality Theory from the Graduate Center City University of New York. Most recently, Nina worked with the NC Family Policy Council, where she led the publication of the organization's 2012 nonpartisan Voter Guide. Previously, she served as Director of Adult Education at St. Michael the Archangel creating education programs for adults, youth and children. Nina lives with her husband and sons in Apex.